title: Paeoniflorin inhibits inflammatory responses in mice with allergic contact dermatitis by regulating the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paeoniflorin (Pae) was previously reported to inhibit inflammation in the skin of mice with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD); however, the mechanism remains unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Pae on the regulation of cytokine production in a murine model of ACD.
  
  
  METHODS
  ACD was induced in the mice by repeated application of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to their skin. Cutaneous inflammation was evaluated by measuring ear swelling and by histological examination. The cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that topical application of DNCB caused obvious swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration. Treatment with Pae (70 or 140 mg/kg/d) significantly inhibited the cutaneous inflammation and decreased thymocyte proliferation in the mice with ACD. Additional data indicated that Pae increased interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 production but reduced IL-2 and IL-17 levels in the serum as well as in thymocyte and splenocyte culture supernatants. As expected, IL-2 and IL-17 levels in the serum displayed a significant positive correlation with the severity of skin inflammation. In contrast, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were negatively correlated with the inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anti-inflammatory action of Pae in the murine model of ACD may be related to its regulation of an imbalanced cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Hua-Xun
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Qing-Tong
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007509:Irritants; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006027:Glycosides
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001565:Benzoates; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D016207:Cytokines; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene; D005960:Glucosides; D007509:Irritants; D039821:Monoterpenes; C015423:peoniflorin; D006027:Glycosides